Why outdated fixtures cost Austin homeowners more than they realize — and how a simple upgrade can cut bills, reduce heat, and brighten your home.

Recessed lighting is everywhere in Austin homes—from older ranch-style houses in Allandale to modern builds in East Austin. But many of these fixtures were installed 10, 20, even 30 years ago. And while they still work, they’re quietly wasting massive amounts of energy.

If your home still uses traditional recessed can lights with incandescent or halogen bulbs, here’s what you need to know about the hidden energy drain—and why LED retrofits are one of the smartest electrical upgrades you can make.

Old Recessed Lighting Uses Far More Electricity Than You Think

Incandescent & halogen bulbs are energy hogs.

A single 65W incandescent recessed bulb uses up to 8x more energy than a modern LED retrofit.

Multiply that by:

• 10, 15, or even 25 recessed fixtures

• Hours of daily use

• Austin’s high electricity rates during summer

…and the waste adds up fast.

Typical Austin homeowner annual comparison:

• 65W incandescent can light: ~$23/year

• 9W LED retrofit: ~$3/year

For a home with 20 recessed lights, that’s:
👉 $400–$500 wasted every year using old bulbs.

Heat Loss & AC Strain: The Problem Gets Worse in Austin Summers

Old recessed “can” fixtures pull hot attic air into your living space. Worse, incandescent and halogen bulbs themselves run extremely hot, raising room temperatures.

That forces your AC to work harder—especially from June through September.

LEDs fix both problems:

• They run cool

• They seal the opening better

• They prevent conditioned air from escaping

• They stop attic heat from leaking into the room

This leads to lower cooling costs and a more comfortable home.

Air Leakage: The Energy Waste You Can’t See

Older recessed lights were not built with modern efficiency standards. Many allow air leakage through gaps around the trim or through the fixture housing itself.

This causes:

• Heat loss in winter

• Heat gain in summer

• Higher utility bills

• Inconsistent room temperatures

LED retrofits use airtight (IC-rated) housings and trim that seal the fixture, creating a much more energy-efficient barrier.

LED Retrofits vs. Bulb Replacement: Why Retrofits Are Better

While you can simply screw in an LED bulb, a retrofit goes much further.

LED retrofit kits offer:

• A modern, slim, sealed trim

• Better light distribution

• No gaskets or old metal housings to leak air

• A cleaner appearance

• Longer lifespan (20–25 years of typical use)

• Dimming compatibility

• Multiple color temperatures (warm to daylight)

They modernize the look of your home while dramatically reducing energy use.

Better Lighting, Better Comfort, Better Efficiency

LED retrofits solve multiple problems at once:

✔ Lower energy bills

✔ Reduced heat output

✔ Brighter, cleaner lighting

✔ Reduced AC load

✔ Longer lifespan (no more bulb changes)

✔ Eliminates attic air leakage

✔ Better dimming and color control

✔ Increased home value

Plus, installation is fast — often less than a few minutes per fixture.

Why Austin Homes Benefit Most

Austin’s combination of:

• High electricity costs

• Long cooling seasons

• Older housing stock with outdated recessed cans

• Tech-savvy homeowners

• Modern design trends

…makes LED retrofits one of the highest-return electrical upgrades available.

LED lighting is especially valuable in homes with:

• Open floor plans

• High ceilings

• Large living areas with many recessed fixtures

• Home offices

• Kitchens with heavy lighting use

Upgrade Your Recessed Lighting With Austin Aztec Electric

Our team installs high-efficiency LED retrofit kits that improve lighting quality and save money from day one. We also handle:

✨ IC-rated sealed retrofits
✨ Whole-home lighting upgrades
✨ Smart lighting integration
✨ Dimming compatibility checks
✨ Kitchen & living room lighting redesigns

Serving Austin, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, Hutto, and surrounding areas.